Potato-planter



(N0 Model.)

' J. w. UNDERHILL.

POTATO PLANTER.

'No. 5731054. Patented Dec. 15,1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

JAMES IV. UNDERIIILL, OF PINE GROVE, MICHIGAN.

POTATO- PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 573,054, dated December15, 1896. Application filed February 2'7, 1896. Serial No. 581,011. Nomodel.)

T at whont it may con/001w:

Be it known that 1, JAMES WV. UNDERHILL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pine Grove, (P. 0. address Gobleville,) in the county of VanBu ren, State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful HandPot-atollanter, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to effect certain improvements in theclass of planters shown to facilitate their construction and use, all asmore particularly described below and pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a sideelevation showing the planter complete; Fig. 2, a broken detail of lowerportion of Fig. 1,1ooking from a point at the left; Fig. 3, across-section on line a a in Fig. 1, looking from a point above; andFig. 4 is a detail in perspective more particularly described below.

Referring to the parts of the drawings pointed out by numbers, 5 is theU-shaped spout portion of the planter, made in the ordinary form bybending a strip of metal and attaching its edges to the back piece 6. At7 is the V-point, made by folding a piece of metal upon itself, leavingthe back side straight and closed and the front side slanting, as inFig. 1, so as to make it sharp at lower end to enter the ground the sameas all planters of this class. This point is attached to the base of thespout, said spout extending a little into it, as in Figs. 1 and 3. Theopen side of the point is closed by a swinging gate 8, pivoted in saidopening at 9. The peculiar construction of this gate, in connection withthe shape of thepoint 7, is of great advantage in preventing dirt fromentering the sides of the point when the gate is open and in preventingsticks and straws from catching in between the gate at the upper end andthe sides of the point at 10. It will be seen that the gate and side ofthe point are on a line clear to the upper end, leaving no opening at10, as heretofore. The gate is turned at right angles at the sides 11inward throughout the length of the gate, and the gate is set in farenough in the opening of the point 7 to leave the edges of the pointprojecting well out, as at 12, at the sides and at .13 at the bottom,Figs. 2 and By this nieansno dirt can enter when the gateis opened, andWhat is more important the point enters the ground easier and, asstated, no sticks and straws can be caught. At 14 is the ordinary stepfor pressing down upon to open the gate 7. This step is attached to thegate by the V-rod 15, and at 16 is a spring to bring the gate back toits closed position.

The depth of planting is controlled by an adjustable step-gage 17, Figs.1, 2, and 3. It is provided with an elongated vertical slot in thatvertical portion 19 which fits against the body of the point 7. Twobolts 20 pass through the slot 18 and are provided with nuts. Thesebolts are separated a little from each other and each bolt is separateda little from the ends of the slot, so that the stepgage will be heldfrom canting laterally and can be adjusted to the desired height byloosening the nuts. I locate this step-gage 17 on the left-hand side ofthe planter for righthand personsand on the other side for lefthandpersons, by which means the operator does not have to cramp and twistthe foot, as is the case where the step is located in the rear, asheretofore.

In the operation the operator takes the planter by the handle 21, ifright-handed, puts a potato in the tube 5, thrusts the point in theground, and if the ground is too hard for this to be accomplished byhand-pressure the operator puts his right foot straight on the step-gageuntil it comes in contact with the ground, thus indicating the properdepth of planting, and as he steps forward be brings the step 14: incontact with the ground the same as in prior planters, which actionopens the gate 7 and leaves the potato in the ground.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-- The combination,ofthe U -body or spout portion, a point having its sides closed throughoutits entire slanting portion leaving no opening at 10, the gatewithinwardly-turned edges and set well in from the outer side edges ofIn testimony of the foregoing'l have herethe point and thevertieallyedjustable c0111- unto set my hand in the presence of twoitbined step and gage, the same being located on one of the sides of theplanter, the same nesses. having the Vertical elongated slot, and boltsJAMES V; UNDERHILL. therein separated from each other and sepa-\Vitnesses: rated from each end of said slot, substantially THOMAS A.STEWART,

R. A. HART.

as set forth.

